Universal joint



Nov. 9, 1937. H G'EYER 2,098,703

UNIVERSAL JOINT Filed May 28. 1957 3mm .Qfazjzgyfl g ez Patented Nov. 9, 1937 r UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE UNIVERSAL JOINT Harvey D. Geyer, Dayton, hio, assignorto General Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich, a corporation of Delaware Application May 28, 1937, Serial No. 145,387 4 Claims. (01. 64-11) This invention relates to universal joint couv these are enclosed within the socket or outer memplings for power transmission shafting and more ber whichincludes separately formed parts It and particularly to a resilient joint wherein a rubber ll. The part ll of the outer member preferably spacer held under compressive stress between consists of a forging and contains screw threaded 6 driving and driven members transmits the torque openings to receive fastening bolts by which the 5 and yieldably maintains the parts in centered recoupling is joined to the driving shaft. The lation, cushions shock and accommodates misother part l6 of the outer member may be in the alignment and relative angularity between the nature of a stamped cup to be sleeved over the driving and driven members. part I! and secured thereto as by welding at l8.

10 An object of the invention is to provide an The part llisprovided withaperipheral shoulder 10 improved design of coupling to facilitate manu-. at I! to engage the end of the member i6 and the facture and assembly at minimum cost, to pro.- member IE is similarly provided with an internal mote uniformity of product and to eliminate the shoulder at 20 to engage the end of the member ll need for adjustment, lubrication and other attenand thereby predetermine the fit of the parts and tion in use. afford a given socket dimension. 7 16 The invention will. be better understood upon In manufacture the joint parts are formed as reference to the accompanying drawing wherein two separate subassemblies, one including the Figure 1 is a side elevation of a portion of a motor outer member part II, the spacer ring part H and vehicle embodying the invention; Figure 2 is an the inner member part III welded to the tube 9.

20 enlarged longitudinal sectional view of the im- These parts are placed in a suitable vulcanizing 20 proved joint; Figure 3 is a sectional view showing mold to cure the rubber and surface bond it to the the joint parts prior to final assembly, and Figure inner and outer parts. Similarly the spacer ring 4 is a detail perspective view of one of the elements I5 is secured between the inner and outer members of the joint. II and I6, respectively. In the subassembly unit,

5 In the drawing the chassis frame I of the aswillbe apparent inFlgure 3, the rubber spaces vehicle is shown supported through suitable the metal elements a greater distance apart thanspringing upon road wheels 2,, the drive axle of in the final assembly, as seen in Figure 2, all acwhich is connected by propeller shaft sections 3 cording to given specifications for uniformity of and l with the power output shaft of the power product, and when the parts are brought together plant 5. A universal joint coupling 6 connects to interfit the projections l3 of the inner member 30 the engine output shaft with the forward end of and seat the shoulders l9 and 20, the rubber the propeller shaft section 4 and a similar joint I spacer rings II and I5 are placed under a preconnects the adjacent ends of the propeller shaft determined compressive stress which causes them sections 3 and t. -A frame bracket 8 adjacent the to flow slightly and this initial deformation inrearmost universal joint I afiords an intermediate sures a self-centering action of the parts and re- 35 support for the propeller shafting. lieves the surface bond of strain. In use the clas- Both the couplings 6 and I may be of the type ticity of the rubber accommodates angularity beshown in the detail views of the drawing wherein tween the inner and outer members of the joint. the driving element comprises a socket to receive It cushions movement in all directions, including 40 the driven member with a spacer of elastic de-. axial, radial and torsional forces, and its surface 40 formable material, such as rubber. Alternately, union withthe driving and driven members the inner member may be the driving element and guards against slippage and displacement. the outer member the driven element. The I claim: innermost member includes a tubular portion 9 1. In aresilient joint, a two part inner member,

to which may be welded'or otherwise secured the a two part socket to receive the inner member, a 5

shaft 4 to be driven. At its forward end it carries two part rubber spacer between the inner meman annular rib in the form of a hollow two-piece her and socket, means joining one part of each stamping i0 and Ii. The foremost stamping or inner member, the socket and the spacer as a ring part It may be welded, as shown at H, to the subassembly unit and similarly joining the other a tube 9 and both rings are provided with compleparts as a separate unit and means securing the mentary projections, as shown at I3 in Figure 4, units together with the complementary parts of adapted to be interfitted with each other for keythe inner member and the socket in cooperative ing the parts together. Embracing the hollow relation, and the spacers under an initial deforrib provided by the two part ring Ill-ll are a mation stress.

pair of rubber spacers H and I5, respectively,and 2. In a resilient drive coupling, a pair of inner 55 and outer driving and driven members, elastic deformable material spacing said members and being secured as a unit therewith, a second pair of inner and outer members, elastic deformable material spacing and being secured as a unit to said members and means joining the inner members together and the outer members together and placing said material under initial stress.

3. In combination, two pairs of inner and outer members, elastic deformable material joining and 10 spacing the members of each pair, and means HARVEY D. GEYER. 

